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From the local to the global, connecting movements for justice and peace.Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:18:29 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Join IVAW and AFSC this Sunday In San Franciscohttp://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/03/27/join-ivaw-and-afsc-this-sunday-in-san-francisco/
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/03/27/join-ivaw-and-afsc-this-sunday-in-san-francisco/#commentsSat, 28 Mar 2015 00:06:00 +0000http://www.unitedforpeace.org/?p=2077

On the 12th year of the U.S. War in Iraq, two presenters will lead a discussion on what’s next:

Wardah Khalid is a Scoville Fellow at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, focusing on research, development and presentation of non-violent policy solutions to counter the self-described Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as well as highlighting why U.S. militarism is undermining locally-led peacebuilding approaches in these countries and throughout the region.

Prior to joining FCNL, Wardah worked as a CVE consultant in Houston, focusing on creating a community plan to counter violent extremism in the local Muslim American community.

Wardah recently graduated from Columbia University where she obtained a masters in International Affairs focused on Human Rights and Middle East Studies. While at SIPA, she interned for various UN and international agencies including UNRWA, UNDP, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the UN Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate where she conducted research on Lone Wolf Terrorism from a UN perspective. She is also the author of the “Young American Muslim” blog for the Houston Chronicle.

Haider Abdul, Program Officer at Open Society Foundations, was the Iraqi journalist who did the “Talk to an Iraqi” for the radio program This American Life

The Ukraine conflict continues to fester, raising tensions in the region to levels not seen since the Cold War. Now the warring parties have agreed to a ceasefire and an approach to further negotiations towards a political solution. Despite this opportunity to move towards peace, the United States, NATO, and Russia are throwing fuel on the fire. The U.S. is sending troops to Ukraine to train Ukraine’s armed forces, NATO is holding joint military maneuvers from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and Russia is conducting massive exercises of its own that include forward deployment of nuclear-capable missiles and bombers. It’s time for the countries that are providing support from outside Ukraine to halt and reverse all actions that contribute to this war and to the growing confrontation in Europe.

The Ukraine conflict has become a complex proxy war involving four of the world’s five original nuclear armed countries: the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom. The extent of support provided by outside powers remains unclear, obscured by virulent nonstop propaganda campaigns promulgated by all sides. The Ukraine war has also become both a cause and an excuse for the ratcheting up of tensions between the U.S. and its NATO allies and Russia.

In addition to the immediate dangers of war, the climate of confrontation has put further progress towards nuclear disarmament on hold. It also has given the military-industrial complexes on both sides a rationale for the resumption of conventional arms racing and nuclear weapons modernization. The people of the Ukraine are the victims, their country a battleground of competing plutocracies.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the hands of its Doomsday Clock up to 3 minutes to midnight, citing the existential threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change.It’s time to step back from the brink. We call on all of the governments involved to take steps to reduce tensions, to lessen the danger of an expanded war, and to provide space and build confidence for negotiations to resolve the Ukraine conflict and the growing confrontation between Russia and the U.S. and its NATO allies. These steps should include:

No military assistance to Ukraine, whether arms, trainers, advisors, or “nonlethal” aid;

Unconditional humanitarian assistance directed to ordinary people in all of Ukraine’s regions, sustaining social benefits and public services and aiding in reconstruction of housing and public infrastructure;

Diplomatic initiatives to encourage Ukrainians engaged in the conflict to enter into good faith negotiations in an effort to reach a political resolution;

No additional deployments of U.S. forces, equipment, or supplies to Europe;

Reversal of NATO decisions to expand rapid reaction forces and supporting infrastructure in Eastern Europe, and particularly in states on Russia’s borders;

Termination of U.S. programs to deploy U.S. ballistic missile defenses in Europe;

A moratorium on military exercises by all parties in and around Ukraine and European states bordering Russia;

A moratorium on exercises and tests of nuclear-armed forces world-wide;

Immediate removal of U.S. nuclear weapons from Europe; and

In this 70th year since the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and 45 years after the U.S., Russia, and the U.K. committed in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to negotiate in good faith for an end of the nuclear arms race and the elimination of nuclear arsenals, immediate commencement of negotiations encompassing all nuclear-armed states for the elimination of nuclear weapons

Last week, 47 Republicans Senators took the shocking step of sending an “open letter” to Iranian leaders aimed at blowing up the nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers including the United States.*

This follows closely on House Speaker Boehner’s unprecedented invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to the Congress in opposition to the diplomatic initiative of a United States President.

And as has been apparent for months, it’s not just Republicans who are out to prevent the Iran agreement. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have been all too active in placing obstacles in the way of peace. At the present time, two bills are pending in the Senate, clearly designed to prevent an agreement with Iran:

Call your Senators. You have probably made these calls before, but it is more important then ever that constituents speak up now. And don’t hesitate to call Republicans. They need to hear how outraged constituents are about their unprecedented sabotage of a President’s foreign policy, as well as their appalling invitation to a foreign leader to challenge the national security policy of the United States, when it promotes peace instead of endless war.

Call your Senators

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Let them know:

You support the President’s diplomacy with Iran

You do not believe US foreign policy should be subordinated to the preferences of a right-wing Israeli government

You oppose legislation that seeks to undermine the prospects for much awaited nuclear agreement with Iran (S.615 and S.269)

You strongly support a nuclear weapons–free Middle East, which includes Israel as well as Iran

Ask the person, who answers the phone, where the Senator stands. And let us know of any results:

All we are saying, is give peace a chance! If you appreciate receiving timely action alerts like this, please make a donation to UFPJ so that we can continue to keep our member groups and dedicated activists linked together for effective action and impact!!

United for Peace and Justice has endorsed the following event. Please share this information to encourage others to participate and attend the demonstration, if possible.

The announcement from Jewish Voice for Peace can be found below.

In peace and solidarity,

UFPJ

Begin forwarded message:

Join JVP DC and allies as we tell Congress and the nation that Netanyahu does not speak for us

Tuesday, March 3

Rally on the West Lawn of the US Capitol Building

4:00 pm

Americans are realizing the danger of Netanyahu’s approach to foreign policy and are uniting against a needless war with Iran. Your presence on Tuesday is essential to show Congress that the American Jewish Community does NOT blindly support Netanyahu’s warmongering.

We will also be thanking the many members of Congress (38 at last count) who have agreed to Skip the Speech. Many of us called and emailed our Congress members and those who answered our call to skip the speech will need our support on Tuesday and in the months to come.

Endorsers to Date: American Muslims for Palestine, Code Pink, Just Foreign Policy, Institute for Policy Studies, Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, Peace Action Montgomery, Sabeel DC Metro, United for Peace and Justice, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace, Additional endorsers expected.

AIPAC’s National Meeting is also happening here in Washington, DC this weekend. Many groups are coordinating rallies and educational events under the banner, #ShutdownAIPAC. Details at http://www.codepink.org/shutdownaipac

]]>http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/28/ufpj-endorses-jewish-voice-for-peaces-march-4-protest-of-netanyahu-speech-to-congress/feed/0UFPJ Opposes New Request for Authorization for Use of Military Forcehttp://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/26/ufpj-opposes-new-request-for-authorization-for-use-of-military-force/
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/26/ufpj-opposes-new-request-for-authorization-for-use-of-military-force/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 20:15:37 +0000http://www.unitedforpeace.org/?p=1984

On February 17, 2015, Code Pink organized a press conference at the Oakland, California Federal Building, calling for opposition to a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force and the end to endless war in the Middle East and beyond.

Speakers included WSLF executive director Jackie Cabasso, who also spoke on behalf of United for Peace and Justice, Emily Yates, Iraq War veteran, Cat Brooks of ONYX/Black Power Network, Paul Cox of Veterans for Peace, Stephen McNeil of American Friends Services Committee, Janet Weil, CODEPINK staffer and military family member, and a member of Congress member Barbara Lee’s staff, whow read a statement from Congress member Lee.

]]>http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/12/downloadable-call-to-action/feed/0Time for the Global Super Power for Peace and Justice to Rise Again! Take Action on February 15 and Beyond…http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/12/time-for-the-global-super-power-for-peace-and-justice-to-rise-again-take-action-on-february-15-and-beyond/
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2015/02/12/time-for-the-global-super-power-for-peace-and-justice-to-rise-again-take-action-on-february-15-and-beyond/#commentsThu, 12 Feb 2015 22:43:41 +0000http://www.unitedforpeace.org/?p=1938

On February 15, 2003, the world said no to war. Over 20 million people in at least 600 cities around the world took to the streets to oppose the impending invasion and occupation of Iraq, giving voice to the sentiment of billions. The New York Times called it the rise of a new superpower: world public opinion.

SAY NO TO GLOBAL WARS!

The US-led “global war on terror” never ended. The stakes are getting even higher. In Afghanistan, Iraq and now Syria, it has brought death, displacement and chaos and resulted in the rise of a new terrorist group, ISIS. Military actions have expanded with the attack and destruction of Libya by NATO in 2011, and continue with regular drone strikes in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. Guantanamo is still not closed. In Africa, ethnic terror attacks have led to massive bloodshed, with little media attention compared to attacks against Europeans, and there are millions of refugees and internally displaced persons with urgent needs for humanitarian support across the Middle East.

Tensions between Russia and the U.S. and its NATO allies centered on the conflict in Ukraine have sparked rounds of nuclear exercises and confrontations among nuclear-armed militaries. The US “pivot to the Pacific” adds fuel to an incendiary mix of confrontations over borders, resources, and trade in the Western Pacific, involving three old nuclear powers—the US, Russia, and China, and the most recent addition to the nuclear club, North Korea. A new nuclear arms race is underway in South Asia between India and Pakistan, with China playing a pivotal role. In the Middle East, nuclear-armed Israel and most of the other nuclear powers are involved in complex webs of alliances and proxy wars, with no end in sight. A quarter century past the end of the Cold War, the potential for nuclear war is ever present and growing.

SAY NO TO MILITARIZING OUR COMMUNITIES!

At home, governments are spending untold billions on war and militarism, fostering racism, Islamaphobia and xenophobia to justify war, and demonizing and imprisoning immigrants and poor people while engaging in surveillance, intimidation and torture. Austerity programs worldwide cut funding for human needs. Education cuts, coupled with soaring tuition fees and minimal wages in dead end jobs are used to drive up military recruitment in what amounts to a poverty draft. One of the most heartless and cynical ways austerity funds war is on the backs of veterans. The same politicians who try to silence antiwar voices are the first to cut services for the veterans they claim to support and to persecute soldiers who say no to war.

Law enforcement agencies are being transformed from “serve and protect” to “repress and control” not only in the streets but expanding into schools, hospitals and stores. Rights to assemble and protest are being shredded. Our safety and often our lives are put at risk. “Shoot first and ask questions later” has become the standard operating principle, especially when it comes to people of color. When the police are militarized, they see communities – especially communities of color – as a battlefield and the residents, particularly black and brown youth, as the enemy. Our democracy becomes collateral damage in the wars at home and abroad. It’s time to deepen our collaboration with the racial justice movement.

SAY NO TO THE WAR ON OUR PLANET!

Wars in the Middle East and Iraq today, like in 2003, aren’t about security. They’re about oil, unfettered U.S. and allied power, and control of resources to ensure the continuation of a consumer-driven corporate monopoly-controlled economy. Meanwhile, millions of people are being driven into a life of basic survival against the forces of greed, ideology and ecological destruction. In North America, we stand in solidarity with the Indigenous nations and communities courageously putting their bodies on the line to prevent construction of pipelines that will move dirty oil from the tar sands of Canada to the Gulf Coast, and fracking, which poisons our air, water and soil. It’s time to deepen our collaboration with the environmental justice movement to keep the oil in the soil and the boots off the ground.

YES! IT’S TIME TO RISE AGAIN!

War, occupation and austerity have not made the 99% safer. War benefits the arms makers, military brass, energy cartels, war lords, drug lords and opportunistic and corrupt politicians everywhere, but leads only to misery, destruction, dislocation and death for the majority of ordinary people.

In honor of February 15, 2003 and the Global Superpower of the people, let’s rise again to work together to build a sustainable world without racism, militarism and police brutality, that is rooted in true peace with justice, dignity and respect for the planet and all that inhabit it!

February 15th: The World Says NO to War! We Say YES to Peace with Justice! Consider organizing a rally, march, vigil, speak-out, die-in, reading of names; leaflet or engage in more creative nonviolent actions at police stations, military facilities , corporate offices or government buildings in your community.

March 19th: Commemorate the 12th anniversary of “Shock and Awe” with candlelight vigils, demonstrations, direct actions, and discussions about the cost of war to our families and communities.

April 15 (Tax Day in the U.S.): This year’s Global day of Action on Military Spending is April 13. It will be observed in the US on April 15. Join with thousands around the world taking action to protest the expenditure of our tax dollars on armaments and militarism and demand that military spending be redirected to meet human needs. http://demilitarize.org/global-day-action-military-spending/

April 24 -26:Join the Peace and Planet Mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Just and Sustainable World, international days of action in New York City and around the globe on the eve of the 2015 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations. The nuclear-armed nations have not met their NPT disarmament obligations and are spending $100 billion a year to maintain and modernize their nuclear arsenals. We need to step up our demand for a nuclear-free, just, sustainable world. www.peaceandplanet.org

On January 14, 2015, UFPJ, with PDA, hosted a national briefing call, addressing Challenges for the Peace Movement: Update on US policy towards Iran and ISIS. Jamal Abdi (National Iranian American Council) gave us an update on the Iranian negotiations and Raed Jarrar (American Friends Service Committee explained the bitter and largely misunderstood situation on the ground in Iraq and Syria. There were nearly 90 people on the call! To listen to a recording: Playback Number: (712) 432-1219; Meeting ID: 446-724-667; Reference #8.

“As I have walked among the desperate, rejected, and angry young men, I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problems. I have tried to offer them my deepest compassion while maintaining my conviction that social change comes most meaningfully through nonviolent action. But they ask — and rightly so — what about Vietnam? They ask if our own nation wasn’t using massive doses of violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted. Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today — my own government.”

Dr. King understood the fundamental connections between the war at home and the wars abroad.In the wake of yesterday’s grand jury decision not to indict DarrenWilson for the murder of Michael Brown, United for Peace and Justice continues to stand in solidarity with Mr. Brown’s family, the people of Ferguson and communities around the country who are committed to transforming this tragic miscarriage of justice into a powerful movement to replace racism, injustice, violence and the militarization of police with economic and social justice for all.

In the days to come, we call on groups around the country to express their solidarity by joining or organizing local nonviolent actions.

On October 3, UFPJ held a national briefing call about Ferguson, featuring Michael McPhearson. To listen to the recording: Playback Number: (712) 432-1219; Meeting ID: 446-724-667#; Recording number: 7#

Send a note to info.ufpj@gmail.com to let us know what your group is planning. [Note corrected e-mail address.]

If you appreciate receiving timely information alerts like this, please make a donation to UFPJ so that we can continue to keep our member groups and dedicated activists linked together for effective action and impact.

Once again the American people have been summoned to wage war against a dangerous “terrorist” adversary –this time it’s the Islamic State (ISIL). Again, we are told this enemy is uniquely evil and that U.S. military force is the only solution. And while the Obama Administration promises to avoid ground combat, the calls for more troops grow more insistent with each passing day, with disturbing evidence of “mission creep.”

U.S.military power as a means of stopping “terrorism” in the Muslim world has not and never will succeed. Over the past thirteen years, we have observed two major US wars in which early euphoria gave way to chaos, corruption and greater violence in the places the United States claimed to be “liberating.”

We recognize that the Islamic State (ISIL) is a dangerous entity, which needs to be stopped. But this cannot be a U.S. directed project, nor can we afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. We cannot bomb an ideology, or heal sectarian conflicts with the barrel of a gun. The narcotic effect of air strikes, which spare the lives of US soldiers, while killing others, takes the story off the front pages. Invisible to the public,the bombing inevitably causes widespread suffering among innocent people, multiplying enemies and provoking further ‘terrorism.”

More constructive alternatives to military intervention include:

accelerating humanitarian assistance for displaced people,

halting the flow of US arms to the region,

pressuring allies to halt the financing and the flow of weapons and IS personnel through their territories,

prioritizing diplomatic intervention under United Nations auspices,

insisting on a renewed peace process for Syria that includes all parties,

involving Iran and other regional actors in the negotiations over Iraq’s future, which include the diversity of groups within that country.

While none of these options is fool-proof, an American war is a proven failure.

This is a critical time to speak-up before the US becomesfully engaged in a new war that could embroil us in conflict for decades. Remind the public and our elected officials that diplomacy and humanitarian assistance ARE more effective than American military intervention.

During the next two weeks United for Peace and Justice together with other peace and justice groups around the country will be making our opposition visible . Please join this effort:

*Call your Congressional and Senate offices and ask where that elected official stands on the new conflict with ISIL? Send a clear message that you are opposed to the bombing, as well as the addition of more “boots on the ground.” Urge them to vote against any authorization for the use of force against ISIL. (Please report replies to rustiandgael@unitedforpeace.org)

If you appreciate receiving timely action alerts like this, please make a donation to UFPJ so that we can continue to keep our member groups and dedicated activists linked together for effective action and impact!

SAVE THE DATE: The 2015 Global Day of Action on Military Spending, April 13, 2015. UFPJ is supporting this annual, growing international day of action. Mark your calendar and watch this space for information and ideas about what you can do in your community.